Dick was tired. His headaches had been getting worse again over the last few weeks and the tension in the house had been stifling. Bruce and Alfred trying to pretend that everything was alright and that they weren't worried about the youngest member of their household.

Finally the day came to find out if anything could be done for him, Bruce had been pacing the night before around his room. Dick knew because he could hear him from next door while he lay in bed.

They were waiting in the waiting room of the Neurologist, it was 3 in the afternoon and they had been wandering around the hospital since 9 that morning. Dick had been in several different machines since he had first arrived. He had had someone shine more lights in his eyes, checking his reflexes over and over, a tuning fork to test his hearing.

He had had x-rays of his chest and skull, he had a Fluoroscopy, an MRI and of course a brain scan. All of these had taken time and by this point most of Dick's energy.

He lent against Bruce's shoulder and started to feel his eyes closing. Why was this happening, why wouldn't it just end?

"Richard Grayson?" he felt Bruce shake his shoulder, he opened his eyes to see the Nurse standing in the doorway. He didn't want to go in.

Since he had become Robin, people looked at him and saw him as a child trying to fit into an adults world. He had fought that allegation and proved himself over and over again that he was more than capable of handling himself. But right now for the first time, he felt like the child they saw him as.

And for once, he was going to give in.

Biting his lip he turned his face into Bruce's arm and gripped his hand around the sleeve of his suit.

Bruce felt his heart melt at the sight of his son. Leslie had warned him about this, the boy had been handling everything so well but now he had hit his limit.

"Come on Chum" he took the younger by the crook of the arm and helped him too his feet and guided him after the nurse.

Once in the Doctor's office they sat in the two chairs in front of the desk and Bruce was pretty sure if it hadn't been for his pride, Dick would have sat on his lap. But instead he settled for sitting as close to his adoptive father as possible.

"So Richard I've heard you've had a bit of a rough time" the Doctor smiled at him kindly but Bruce could practically see Dick shrinking into himself. Thankfully so could the doctor.

"Now, not to worry. We're going to try and get you sorted".

They went through the same questions that they had had to go through with all the other doctors, but something about this time was different. This Doctor had a way with Dick, when they had come in Dick had been at the end of his rope. But as they talked the boy seemed to calm down considerably...Until the test results came into the conversation.

"Now I've taken a look at your test results" Dick shut down straight away and his hand found Bruce's sleeve again.

"Like I said, not to worry. We didn't find anything with the scans and your reflexes are better than normal" both men let out a sigh of relief. There was no tumour.

"Then what's wrong with him?"

"There are nerve ending all over his body that are rubbing together where they shouldn't be. Causing the pain and fainting spells and all of his other symptoms".

"But what caused it?"

"Has he had any trauma to his back in the last year?"

Both paused as they thought back to a mission last year when Robin had been thrown off a fire escape and had a bumpy ride down.

But of course they couldn't very well come out and say that could they. Thankfully, Dick seemed to have pulled himself together.

"I fell off the trapeze during a practise a little while ago. Missed the net completely" he said not faltering for an instant "It wasn't that high but it hurt like hell"

"Did you have any medical attention after the incident?" Indeed he had, he had been in bed in agony for 3 days waiting for the swelling to go down and then had 4 months of weekly physiotherapy and then another month visiting a chiropractor.

"So that's what's caused it?"

"We believe so. Which unfortunately means it's properly going to be a reoccurring part of your life" That was not what Dick wanted to hear, he wanted a cure. He wanted the pain to stop so he could go back to his life.

His face must have showed his disappointment, because the Doctor's face softened.

"It's not all bad news. There are ways of dealing with the problem. Visiting a chiropractor a few times a year will help. For times when the pain returns then we can put you on a round of amitriptyline which should dull it enough for you to short out your back again".

"So the problem is his back not his head?" asked Bruce, clarifying.

"Yes, his spine to be precise"

"Even his sensitivity to light?"

"Yes, although as the Ophthalmologist said his Optic nerve his fine, but the other nerves behind the eyes are raised from aggravation"

"So what can you do about the pain now?" Dick's grip on Bruce's sleeve tightened as the older man asked the question he wanted to know the answer to the most.

"I advice continuing with the amitriptyline for another few months, if the headaches are persisting then try a higher dose. Other than that, changing some simple things about your life could help. Such as changing your pillow, thinking about your posture when you sit or drive"

"I'm 13" said Dick hoping he didn't sound guilty, of course he did drive a motorcycle as Robin but if anyone knew that outside of the hero community...he would be in deep trouble with Commissioner Gordon.

"Of course, but when your sat in the car and when you do start driving, thinking about how you are sat is important."

Dick nodded in understanding, he could do that.

"Also, another aspect of your life that could be adding to the problem is stress. Would you say parts of your life are stressful?"

umm Duh! Thought Dick, I'm one of the most famous people in the US, I'm kidnapped at least 6 times a year. I go to a seriously posh school where I'm hated and bullied by 98% of its population all while trying to keep my A+ average report card. Oh and I'm also Robin in the Dynamic Duo of Gotham!

"Yeh, I'd say parts of my life are pretty stressful".

The Doctor nodded "Well you need to find a way of calming yourself down, I think you'll find as you become less stressed, your headaches will also start to fade".

oOoOoOoOo

A few days later Dick was diagnosed with Chronic Tension Headaches. He was put on a higher dose of amitriptyline for 5 months. And over this time he sorted out his back and found several ways of dealing with his stress. And after a month without a single headache, Batman finally let Robin return.

oOoOoOoOoO

4 Years later.

"Nightwing?" Wally sped into the living room where some of the younger members of the team were watching TV.

"Have any of you guys seen Nightwing?" Beast boy looked up from the screen

"Not since we came back from our mission. He got thrown around a little bit so I think he went t lie down for a bit"

Wally nodded at the green skinned youngster and then sped off to his friends room, outside the door he knocked and waited for a sign of his friend.

when he didn't hear anything he typed in the code and entered the room. The was no sign of Dick but the light was on in the bathroom.

"Night? You in there?" he peaked in through the door, there was no one standing in the bathroom but there were a pair of legs hanging over the edge of the bath tub.

"Nightwing?" the ginger walked forward and saw his friend was led in the bathtub in his boxer shorts, his eyes were closed and a slight frown on his face. upon closer inspection he saw that the younger had his waterproof earphones in (which he had brought for this very purpose) hence why he hadn't answered when he had called his name.

Wally sat on the tiled floor and lent his arms on the side of the bath, looking down at the young hero.

Nightwing must have sensed the shadow over his face because he opened his eyes and gave a yelp at the surprise of seeing a face above him.

"Couldn't even wait long enough to take your pants?"

"Good thing I didn't you perv" said the 17 year old. Wally laughed, over the last 4 years since being diagnosed with his condition, Dick have found several methods of dealing with his headaches. One of his most effective methods ways lying like this in warm water. It was effective due to the fact it soothed his back and head and it was also calming for him.

"Heard you got tossed around like a rag doll" the speeder grinned

"Yeh, bloody Cinderblock" he groaned

Wally looked down at his oldest friend thoughtfully. He knew he couldn't understand what his friend went through, unless you experience the pain first hand, you wouldn't know how draining it is. But watching Dick over the years had helped him understand and he knew some ways to at least sooth some of his friends pain.

He reached forward and started rubbing Dicks forehead in slow circles.

"Want me to go get Batman?" the blue eyes opened again

"No, I'm alright" he sighed and then sat up his hair sticking to his face, he rubbed his temples for a few moments before looking back at the speedster.

"I'll Survive" he grinned "I always do".